The term
nunatak is typically used in areas where a permanent
ice sheet is present and the ridge protrudes above the sheet. Nunataks present readily identifiable landmark reference points in glaciers or ice caps and are often named. While some are isolated, they can also form dense clusters, such as
Queen Louise Land in Greenland. Nunataks are generally angular and jagged, hampering the formation of glacial ice on their tops, although snow can accumulate on them. This can contrast strongly with the softer contours of the glacially eroded land after a glacier retreats. They are not greatly affected by
frost weathering, given the low frequency of freeze-thaw cycles in areas of ice caps and ice sheets. Typically nunataks are the only places where plant life can survive on ice sheets or ice caps. Lifeforms on nunataks are often isolated by the surrounding ice or glacier, providing unique habitats. ==List==